Google and Microsoft showing 'extreme' interest in UK airwaves

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The technology heavyweights could be looking to nab spectrum to start offering new services.

Google and Motorola have expressed 'extreme interest' in acquiring currently unused UK airwaves, possibly in a bid to offer broadband in the UK or begin to connect remote devices together, according to The Telegraph.

The unused spectrum – known as 'White Space' by Ofcom, which is looking to license out the frequencies – is currently used to make sure high power TV signals don't interfere with one another.

No worries – we'll have it

However, this means that lower-power devices operating in a short range would be able to make use of the space, enabling Wi-Fi routers with wider ranges or allowing things like appliances or utility meters to be better-connected within the home and through thicker walls.

The Telegraph's senior government sources have claimed that the two companies see this technology as a chance to offer something very different to Apple, with the possibility being that Wi-Fi would be available as part of the bundle when buying a top-end smartphone, thus saving consumers money and increasing speeds.

The technology, which exists in the sub 1GHz frequencies rather than the faster but shorter range 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands Wi-FI traditionally operates in, may not be able to carry data as quickly as the home router but would be able to extend the range of the signal to benefit more users.

Ofcom is also looking to extend the scheme to do the same with the white spaces in between the FM frequencies which act as buffers for the UK's radio stations, although it will likely be looking into that scheme after the TV signal repurposing is complete in 2013.